Jackson kicks Spain out of Florida

Like the American Indians, the Spanish who remained in Florida after 1815 had become vulnerable. White Americans, for their part, felt they had a right, even an obligation to drive the Spain from the mainland, in part because Anglo Protestants had a long tradition of distrusting Catholic, monarchical Spanish. To make relations even more volatile, 60 miles from the southern border of the United States stood the so-called Negro Fort (above) near Pensacola, occupied by runaway slaves and their Indian allies. Spain was eager, in fact to overthrow it but they did not have enough military power. Though his authorization form Washington was doubtful, Jackson invaded Spanish territory, executed a Creek prophet and two British men who accused of abetting the Indian cause, and overran the weak, Spanish presence in the most important outposts. Many white Americans thronged the cities where Jackson appeared along the way, celebrating him as a decisive hero rather than castigating him for being the military despot Henry Clay (right) claimed.